GALAXIES: A Beginner's Guide to Exploring Galaxies

Collisions, Cannibals, and the Cosmic Web

The universe is filled with wonders far beyond the reach of the human eye, and only recent advances in technology have allowed us to observe them in all their glory.

Galaxies explores the cosmos on its grandest scale, showcasing the vast structures of stars, planets, gas, and dark matter that populate the universe. These colossal systems do not exist in isolation―their interactions shape their evolution and drive some of the most dramatic events in the cosmos.

Witness galaxies swallowing smaller neighbors in acts of galactic cannibalism, growing ever larger in the process. Discover what happens when massive galaxies collide, unleashing spectacular destruction that can trigger the birth of new generations of stars as two systems merge into one.

Why do galaxies consume one another? What will happen when the Milky Way eventually collides with another galaxy? And how many enormous cosmic structures remain hidden beyond our view?

Accessible and richly informative, Galaxies answers these questions and many more. From the earliest sketches and black-and-white photographs of newly discovered galaxies to modern observations of distant cosmic megastructures, it traces humanity’s evolving understanding of these extraordinary objects.

Yet many mysteries remain. The origins of galaxies, the abundance of dark matter within them, and the true nature of the supermassive black holes at their centers continue to challenge astronomers and push the limits of scientific knowledge.

A fascinating journey through the largest structures in the universe, Galaxies reveals the beauty, complexity, and enduring mysteries of the cosmos.

The Royal Observatory, Greenwich is the home of Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian of the World, making it the official starting point for each new day and year. It is also home to London's only planetarium, the Harrison timekeepers and the UK's largest refracting telescope. It runs the annual Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition.

Collins Astronomy is the home of the bestselling annual Guides to the Night Sky, Night Sky Almanac and also publishes the Astronomy Photographer of the Year collection and other popular astronomy books.